Disclaimer : I don't know if much people like Gatrie/Astrid fics, but since I haven't found a single one I decided to write one down. This is my point of view on how Gatrie was able to give her freedom back to Astrid.


Battle For Love

Astrid couldn't help but wince when the iron blade hit Gatrie's blue armor. Even if she knew it hadn't even scratched him, the fear was still there. The young woman watched anxiously as the lord's powerful horse circled her bodyguard in order to find a weakness he could turn to his advantage. She wanted to run and help Gatrie but she had to remain out of this fight.

How did all of this happen already? Oh yes... since the beginning of the war against Deain, when she had first joined forces with Greil's mercenaries, Astrid had taken a liking to talking with Gatrie. It was something others considered to be normal, given the blond man was the only one she knew amongst the fighters. Soon trust got the best of them and after a few days, at the knight's demand, Astrid had begun talking about herself, and her life. Gatrie had been shocked to learn that she was engaged, after they were done training; and to a man thirty years older than her on top of that! When he had asked why, Astrid had sighed and answered that it was just the way things were supposed to be with noble-born girls: you were given no choice.

Gatrie had puffed out his chest and told her that she had earned the liberty of choosing who she wanted to marry. The bow knight had only smiled sadly and thanked him.

But now Astrid realized that Gatrie had given her more than a few words of support that day: he had made a promise to her, an untold promise. And earlier that day, he had proven it...

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Gatrie and Astrid were lying on the ground in the field near Crimea's capital. The blond-haired knight was slumbering, his hands supporting his head, while the horsewoman was playing with blades of grass, lying on her stomach beside him. They were enjoying the peace and quiet on that warm sunny day for once.

Gatrie grunted softly in his sleep and Astrid looked up at him. When the knight took a deep breath and mumbled something she couldn't make out, she smiled. She was growing very fond of the man, and the feelings she made for him went beyond what she felt towards another friend. Astrid liked Gatrie's humor, and his good spirit really booster her moral. And, there was no denying it, she thought he looked very handsome (although she hadn't seen many men in her life). But he was her bodyguard, and telling him that would be... awkward, to say the least.

The young woman shook her head when she noticed she was still staring at Gatrie's sleeping form. Who could blame her, after all, he really was a sight to see: lying flat on his back with his hands behind his head and his cheek against his forearm, his powerful chest rising and falling. If Astrid squinted a bit, she could see his abs squeezed under his white shirt, ready to burst with each peaceful breath he took. He was physically the strongest man she had ever met, in comparison to him she felt as fragile as glass. Astrid vaguely wondered what it would feel like to be held in those strong arms of his; she would feel secure, she could hide away from the rest of the world.

The bow knight shook her head and began plucking out blades of grass again. The more she thought about it, the more she knew that, deep down, she loved Gatrie, and she wanted to be with him. But like was unfair, that was the way things were, and she was already engaged. Gatrie knew it, and he understood. He always understood.

Astrid was drawn out of her daydreaming by the sound of a running horse. Gatrie probably heard it too because he yawned and opened his eyes lazily, sitting up. "What's the matter?" he asked in a voice slurred from sleep.

Astrid was about to reply when she caught sight of two horses approaching very fast, their hooves stomping the ground – and more importantly, of their riders. "Oh no," she whispered as she scooted over to hide behind Gatrie. "Goddess please, tell me it's not real..."

The knight turned around to see what the young woman was afraid of. There were two horsemen riding that way, and they didn't look happy at all. Gatrie's bodyguard instinct kicked in and he stood tall, ready to defend Astrid with all this might even wihout his armor.

"Who are you?" the knight asked when the riders were within hearing range.

"The question should rather be: who are you?" a grey-haired and white-bearded man replied.

"I'm Lady Astrid's bodyguard," Gatrie said, standing his ground. The horseman, who looked like he was in his late fifties, was wearing a white outfit with golden borders. His partner, who didn't look very younger, had an annoyed look plastered on his face and kept figteting with the sleeve of his dark red tunic. Noble, the blue-armored knight thought. Wonder what they are doing here, though.

"Greetings, "Lady Astrid's bodyguard", my name is Hermes," the man nodded. "Now if you would please step aside, there are a few matters I'd like to discuss with my daughter."

Gatrie widened his eyes a little but remained where he was. He didn't know why Astrid's father was there nor what he wanted, but he received his orders from nobody excepted the young horsewoman. He had sworn to protect her, and it wouldn't be told that Gatrie had broken his vow, father or not.

It was Astrid who stepped up beside him. "N-No Gatrie, it's all right," she told him, putting her hand upon his upper arm. When the knight nodded, the woman turned to the two riders. "Father..."

"Well, good afternoon, dear daughter," Hermes said back. "Before we talk about anything, I would like to say that it's good to see you again. Although I believe we were to see each other sooner... more like, a week ago?" The man's features became hard.

Gatrie glanced at Astrid and saw that his employer was slightly shaking. "I know, Father..." she muttered.

"You know?" Hermes crossed his arms on his chest. "Then if you knew, why weren't you there in the first place? Pray tell what good a wedding can do, if the bride is missing?" Astrid's ashamed gaze fell to the floor.

Gatrie turned his head to her. So that was the reason she had acted strange the past few days. She knew her wedding was going to take place and yet she didn't show up in Begnion. Well it makes it all the more easier for me, he thought, his mind already brewing up a plan.

"I think you have to apologize to your fiancé," Hermes scolded. "Sir Din, please come forward." The red-wearing rider nudged his horse, an angry look on his face. Gatrie didn't know why, but he was beginning to despise the man.

"Umm..." Astrid looked up at Din, clearly intimidated.

"I've heard of your "heroic" doings, back in Begnion," Din said in a gruff voice. "Do you think yourself smart? Hanging out with subhumans and, as I learnt lately, Branded?" He spat the name in disgust, and Gatrie felt his eye twitch. "Stop this nonsense, Astrid, come back in Begnion. The game is over." He extended a hand for her to take and mount on his horse.

The young woman looked at the hand hesitantly. "I..."

"She doesn't want to go," Gatrie spoke up.

Din took a look at the blond-haired man and chuckled. "Sure, she doesn't. Now come on, Astrid, we are going to end up late, this is no time for jokes."

"This is no joke." Gatrie stepped up and put himself between Astrid and Din.

Din backed up a little but Hermes frowned. "Astrid, what is that man talking about?"

"He... he is right Father!" Astrid said firmly although she was terrified inwardly. "I don't want to go home! And I don't want to marry Sir Din either!"

"Weither you want it or not, you knew from the beginning that you were engaged to him, it's the law and our traditions. A wedding planned between two noble families cannot be cancelled, unless-"

"Unless a knight decides to fight in the name of the lady," Gatrie cut in, his arms over his chest.

Astrid took a sharp intake of breath and looked at Gatrie. He seemed so confident, so sure of himself when he said that... could she dare believe...

"Astrid, this is ridiculous!" Din exclaimed. "He's a mere peasant! He's next to nothing!"

"He's a knight!" Astrid said in Gatrie's defence.

"A knight, yes, a low-ranked knight who lives the life of a peasant!"

"Well I'd rather be a peasant all my life with someone I love than a noblewoman with nothing to do all my life!"

"You're making no sense at all, I swear, those mercenaries brainwashed you!" Din bent down and grabbed Astrid's wrist. "Now come on, we lost enough time as it is!"

Gatrie gently freed Astrid's wrist and walked up to Din. "If you become violent, I shall do the same," he growled. "So... about this battle?"

"Fine," Din snapped, grabbing his reigns. "You know the rules... battle to the death, and first one to die... loses."

Gatrie grinned. "Just let me fetch my armor."

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A small crowd had gathered around the two fighters. Astrid was able to recognize Shinon, Gatrie's archer friend, Boyd and Mia. The rest of them, however, she didn't give much thought to. Her mind was focused upon the two men fighting to death before her. More importantly, on the man who had wanted to fight for her.

Din was getting frustrated. His sword didn't seem to hurt Gatrie a bit, and he was beginning to feel tired whereas the blue knight was only sweating a bit. The Begnion noble was searching for something, anything, that could allow his victory. When he caught sight of an opening between two plates of armor, that gave him a clear view of Gatrie's collarbone, Din lunged for it.

That was the mistake Gatrie was waiting for. The blond man shoved his lance forward just the right angle and made Din topple over. The noble fell to the ground, but he quickly recovered and grabbed his sword with both hands. Fatal mistake, Astrid thought. The first thing you learnt as a paladin was to never fall off of our horse. If you did however, never try to fight, you would be killed.

Din brought his sword down for a strike, but Gatrie blocked it with his lance. The two men tested their strenght by pushing against their opponent's weapon; Gatrie was slowly pushing the Begnion noble to the ground although the latter was trying to resist. He just wasn't strong enough. Soon Din was kneeling, still pushing with all his might, but Gatrie just held him down. After a few seconds the iron blade broke in two, leaving Din breathless and weaponless.

Gatrie pointed his silver lance to Din's throat. "You lose."

Astrid closed her eyes. She knew it was a battle to the death, but she didn't want to see either of the two men die. But after a few seconds, when she heard nothing, she opened her eyes to see Din still kneeling, panting.

"What are you waiting for, boy?" the noble grunted. "Finish me off already."

"Killing you won't do me any good, and besides... I've already seen too much people die." Gatrie put his lance away and took a step back. "I defeated you, which is all I wanted to accomplish. Bloodshed, unless it can't be avoided, really isn't my thing."

Din got up and bowed in mild-respect to the winner. "I have to admit you fight good for a peasant. But still my own training lacks importance these days," the Begnion noble hissed.

"Then you must train harder, sir."

"Gatrie!" The blond knight looked up to see Astrid running towards them. Grinning, he took his helmet off and threw it to the floor next to his silver lance. The young woman sped past Din to jump into Gatrie's arms in a very unladylike way. "You were fantastic!"

"Just my duty, mylady," he smiled.

Astrid beamed at her knight. Right now she didn't care about Din, she didn't care about her father watching; heck, she didn't give a damn about all of the mercenaries watching. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Gatrie.

The man was startled, but soon enough he melted into the kiss and wrapped his own arms around the smaller woman's frame. When they parted for breath, Astrid gave his cheek a peck and hugged him tight. Gatrie was only vaguely aware of the mercenaries cheering around him, all that mattered right now was Astrid in his arms. She was finally there.

"Way to go, Gatrie!" he heard Boyd shout. A whistle followed, more than likely from Shinon.

Yeah... way to go... Gatrie only squeezed Astrid more, and wished the embrace nerver broke.